When I found this large purple flower I HAD to make something with it. The color is STUNNING in person. And the crystals I placed in the center are the perfect accent for it. A variety of green feathers trail away from underneath it's impressive petals. On the back is a long alligator hair clip so the hair ornament will sit firmly in your hair. The fascinator is about 8.5 inches long by 5 inches wide, making a bold but elegant statement.

I just realized that my two nieces are both getting married in six month from now. In an effort to help them out a little bit I've compiled a little to do list that my friends have found helpful. Please if you have anything to add leave it in the comments below so I can add it to the list for them.

A Starter To Do List for a New bride…Set DateSet BudgetPrepare preliminary Guest listEngagement AnnouncementsCeremony Site/ChurchOfficiantReception SitePhotographerVideographerBand/DJ - CH and ReceptionCeremony MusiciansSelect & Ask Bridal Party

Gather requirements for religious ceremony (baptismal certificates, divorce decrees, etc)Register for Precana classesApply for passports and all travel necessities: visas, vaccines, etcBlock off hotel rooms for Out of town GuestsPrepare Save The Date guestlistSend out Save The DatesSelect stores, make list, & registerBook wedding day transportation (limos)

Shop for and order Bride's GownShop for and order Bridesmaids GownsShop for and order Flowergirl(s) Dress(es)Mother Of Bride & Mother Of Groom order gownsFinalize GuestlistBook HoneymoonBook FloristSelect and order InvitationsBook CalligrapherShop for and order wedding rings

Must-Take photo listDo not play/must play lists for DJ/BandSchedule Hair & Makeup trialsSit for Engagement PhotosPurchase or make ceremony programsSchedule day of hair, makeup, and nail appts for Bride and Brides MaidsHost Brides Maids luncheon

Mail out invitationsFinalize menus, song selections, timelines, and all details with all vendorsAttend gown fittingsBreak in wedding day shoesMake sure you have something old, new, blue, etc

Call guests who have not RSVP'dObtain Marriage LicenseShop & pack for HoneymoonAttend shower and bachelor(ette) partiesSet aside time to write thank you notes for shower giftsPrepare Day-of Timeline and give a copy to each vendor along with copies of must-take photo lists, etcSend out wedding announcements to local paper

Confirm all final payments, schedule, pick up times, head count, etc with all vendors

For some reason in my searches around the web all these odd Kabuto or Samuri helmets have been popping up. One in particular a friend pointed out to me, little miss MonstrousIndustry. It's a bunny, and I LOVE him!

"A kabuto (兜, 冑) is a helmet used with traditional Japanese armour as worn by samurai. It features a strong bowl, the "hachi", which protects the crown of the head, a suspended series of articulated plates (the "shikoro") to protect the neck, and often a crest of the clan (mon). In the Japanese language, the word kabuto is a generic name for just any helmet, but in Western usage it refers to a distinctively Japanese Samurai helmet. Another form of kabuto is the "kawari kabuto", or "strange helmet". During the Momoyama period of intense civil warfare, theproduction of helmets was simplified to a three or four plate design that lacked many of the ornamental features of earlier helmets. To offset the plain, utilitarian form of the new helmet,

and to provide visibility and presence on the battlefield, armorers began to build fantastic shapes on top of the simple helmets in harikake, or lacquered paper over a wooden armature. These shapes mimicked forms from Japanese culture and mythology, including fish, cow horns, the head of the god of longevity, bolts of silk, head scarved, ichi-no-tani canyon, and ace heads, among many others. Some forms were realistically rendered, while others took on a very futuristic, modernist feel. A definitive show of kawari kabuto was mounted by the Japan Society in 1985. The catalog, entitled "Spectacular Helmets of Japan" (ISBN 0-87011-784-X) is a good guide to this form. (From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuto )"

In an earlier post I wined about my missed oppretiunity to by htis amaZing lotus mold well it just made me want to go back and shop more at their site That post is on my menagerie blog. So here a few more loves that I have found and an explination as to what to do with htem. Then I dug into their history a bit and their odd connection with the dead So her eis a quick history of Japanes sweet molds and their surprising connection with the dead. sort of goes with my theme of japanese ghosts

Vintage from Japan is this wonderful shop on Etsy that offers all sort of goodies straight from the land of the rising sun. The first time I saw these sweet molds I fell in love. Here is how the shop describes what they are exactly an how they are used... "Often made of sakura (cherry wood) and seasoned for about 3 years before carving, kashigata were used to make dried confectionery made of rice flour and sugar called rakugan. Earliest records show that this practice dates back to the mid-17th century.

These confections were used as offerings and snacks for celebratory occasions and even unfortunate events. For example when a person died, it was expensive to giveflowers or fresh food so, people made these sweets in the form of flowers, fish etc. These items were then placed on the "butsudan" (family shrine found in the house) for the dead person.Kashigata were also used in the making of wagashi (nama-gashi or freshly made cake and hi-gashi or driedconfectionery) for tea ceremonies.Common kashigata motifs in the Edo era - chrysanthemums, plum blossomsMeiji Era - spread of western technology - balloons, planesWorld War II - national pride heightened - cherry blossoms, battleships - used as gifts for departing troops, ceremonies and commemorative occasions.With the advent of refrigeration, fresh fish replaced rakugan motifs like the sea bream. Sadly today, making offerings for fortunate and unfortunate events is no longer a common practice. This in turn has lessened rakugan demand although they are still found in tea ceremonies and homes. The decrease in kashigata artisans today has made kashigata carving a dying craft making kashigata itself a sought-after collectible."

I blame this piece of work entirely on Netflix. I started out watching a documentary on Joesphine Baker, then House on Haunted Hill (the old one), and lastly several Scooby Doo episodes. After a nap they all jumbled in my head and when I woke up this is what I created. If you look really hard you can see them all in there. I call it the Flapper Skull.

This is the most elegant rain cloud costume I have ever seen. I saw it on pinterest. It leads you to an indulgy page, which then leads you to stardustfox.tumblr.com.So God only knows where this image is actually located. If you know please leave the link in the comments section so I can give credit and look at some of their other creations. It reminds me of the Venice costumes at carnival time. So it might actually be one of those instead of a Hallwoeen costme. But it is stunning either way.

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EJPcreations is a mad scientist of a woman specializing in creating tiaras, necklaces, and fascinators, with a noir, and gothic flair. All adornments have a hint of vampire elegance, a dash of Steampunk bravado, and plenty of Neo-Victorian sensibilities.